Together we are Christ’s body, each of us with a part to play in the whole 
                    - 1 Corinthians 12:27

December 2017

Dear Friends,

Have you been enjoying Todd Bartlett’s series on camping as much as I have? If you haven’t seen it, check it out here! Todd is in his first year as our Executive Director of Camp & Retreat Ministries. He comes to us with a strong background in providing hospitable spaces for ageless spiritual growth, having many leadership experiences along the breadth of our camping program. Over the years, Todd has engaged all of the stunningly beautiful natural settings of our camps and retreat centers in Oregon and Idaho, most recently completing an eight year stint as director of Alton L. Collins Retreat Center.

We are very fortunate to have the right staff in place for this moment - a critical time when what we offer is exactly what people of all ages are searching for.
Like many of you, my husband and I contributed as much as we could to the Time to Grow capital campaign.

In recent years, because of the success of this capital campaign, Camp & Retreat Ministries has been able to focus on major updates and upgrades at our facilities by dedicating dollars, materials, time, creativity, and expertise. Thank you so very much for making these very necessary improvements possible. These projects are mostly complete and are now settings where new memories are being woven. Because of all of these transformations, site directors and their staffs are better able to create places of warm hospitality for spiritual growth and community development. One of the last of these projects, the new Welcome Center at Sawtooth Camp, will be officially dedicated in June - sharing its celebration with retiring director, Dave Hargreaves.

Our attention must now turn to providing sufficient ongoing resources for our sites to continue to sustain and grow their vital ministries.

Beginning in September 2016, our family became ‘sustaining’ donors, finding it simple to setup and have our contribution automatically deducted monthly from our checking account. If you haven’t taken this step, I heartily recommend it - and it’s easy to give a bit more through the year by doing this. 

Visit GoCamping.org/donate to discover how you can take this next step.

So, I’ve been thinking. I make it a priority to pay for fuel for my car and other transportation costs to get me where I need or want to go. Of course I do! Can I also make as high a priority to contribute generously to the ministries that “fuel” the spreading of the love of God?

I regularly pray to be awake to ways for me to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I do not have the physical strength or energy I once had. However, one way I believe God answers my prayer is for me to be able to gratefully contribute to ministries that model and provide for experiences of the grace of God to all who come. Camp & Retreat Ministries is one of those powerful settings.
I have heard that if you make a public statement about something you want to accomplish it is likely to actually happen. So here it is:  

I will make it my priority this year to grow my annual contribution to Camp & Retreat Ministries. And, to kick start my commitment, I will make an additional special end of year contribution today. Will you join me?

Will you make your first contribution? 
Will you join the monthly sustainer program? 
Will you double or triple your annual gift? 

With thanksgiving, prayer and passion,

Sally Jones, Council of Advocates Chair

Camp & Retreat Ministries of Oregon and Idaho

Visit GoCamping.org/donate to discover how you can take this next step.

---